January 15, 2024sarahylockwood

Foundry by Eliot Peper

Rate: 4/5

Medium: Audiobook

Overview (No Spoilers): 

I have been a fan of Peper’s writing for years now, having read nine of his action-packed novels. Well researched, Foundry is quintessential Peper; centered around an emerging technology that is integrated into a high stakes situation with far reaching implications. 

Peper sets the stage from page one with two spies frozen in a stalemate with one gun separating them. The backstories are slowly filled in piece by piece for both characters, eventually leading up back to the opening scene. The piecing together of Aiden and Caroline’s histories is somewhat disjointed, causing the story to sometimes jolt and lag in the pacing. Despite the uneven pacing, I finished Foundry in one day, unable to put down this engaging story.

Foundry is told from the perspective of Aiden, whose boundless ego and confidence fit seamlessly into his role of espionage for the US government. As an unreliable narrator, I kept finding myself wondering if I was being told the truth or a convenient lie that related what Aiden needed me to know about him. My connection with Aiden suffered as a result, along with his character development.

One of my favorite aspects of this read is the snarky commentary on spy movies contrasting with Aiden’s everyday existence. These revelations added in needed levity and almost always brought a smile to my face as I could recollect many times in spy movies where the stereotype in question is employed.

Overall, Foundry has a different feel from Peper’s other novels, with the high suspense beginning developing into a slow burn that will keep the reader hooked as two spies find themselves ever more entangled, but who is working who? 

Additional Insights (Spoilers Abound): 

  • Caroline’s background reveal was rather anticlimactic after all the buildup.
  • Does Leah know Aiden and Caroline are still alive? Did Samatha purposely give them an escape?
  • Leah was such an interesting and vague villain, though in her mind I doubt that she views herself as the ‘bad guy’. She was always just one step ahead. It seems like she would have measures in place to counter any sabotage by Caroline or Aiden.
  • Taiwan is definitely on my travel list now. Now I’m curious if Peper has actually traveled there and loves it just as much as Aiden. For that matter, does Peper love coffee as much as his protagonists? I craved coffee throughout much of this story too. 

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